How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Cincinnati

A clean and quiet city on the shores of the Ohio River, "Cincy" is a quintessentially Midwestern weekend escape. Family attractions abound here—including some excellent spectator sport venues and museums—but couples seeking a romantic recluse will have a memorable getaway as well. Start planning your perfect weekend in Cincinnati.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. The Cincinnati Museum Center on Western Avenue boasts a fine troika of attractions housed in the handsome and historic Union Station. The Cincinnati History Museum includes a re-creation of the Cincinnati Public Landing of the 1850s where visitors can climb aboard a side-wheel steamboat; the Children’s Museum is considered one of the best in America; and the Museum of Natural History includes a wonderfully re-created limestone cave, complete with waterfalls and a bat colony!
2. Enjoy a sporting event in a city that takes them seriously. Your best bets are seeing the Reds play nine innings in the state-of-the-art Great American Ball Park or watching the Bengals go 60 minutes at Paul Brown Stadium.
3. See the second-oldest zoo in the nation at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens in the city’s Avondale neighborhood. Among the unexpected highlights is an area focused entirely on Florida marine life known as Manatee Springs.
4. Stop by and make a wish at Fountain Square, home to the magnificent Tyler Davidson Fountain and a hub of pedestrian activity. Sophisticated shoppers will enjoy the upscale retailers on the surrounding streets, including a Brooks Brothers, Macy’s and Tiffany and Co.
5. Spend an afternoon in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, with homes and churches that display appealing architecture of the 1800s. A highlight of the sector is no doubt Findlay Market, a lively public market open all-year hawking excellent ethnic foods, colorful flowers, dairy products and much more.
6. Visit the Cincinnati Art Museum in Eden Park, where creations dating back thousands of years include impressive works from European (van Dyck, Rubens, Gainsborough, Picasso, Renoir, Chagall) and American masters (Cole, Wyeth, Wood, Hopper). Also there are other major modern and contemporary artists.
7. Appreciate the city’s thriving performing arts scene at Music Hall on Elm Street. Home to Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Opera, this lavish venue also hosts other performing arts groups and is simply exquisite inside and out.

Tips & Warnings

• About 12 miles south of downtown Cincinnati in Northern Kentucky, the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport is served by such major carriers as American, United, Continental and Delta.
• Check weather and road conditions before driving to Cincinnati in the winter.